Russell Minick

Sunday March 9 – Broken Relationships

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

It is markedly good to be someone who is about making the effort to be at peace with people. That is what God does. To do that as well is to show His nature through your actions.

Where does Jesus explain MT 5:9? MT 5:21-26 seems to fit. Let’s see if it works:

Matthew 5:21-26 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ (22) But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. (23) So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, (24) leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (25) Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. (26) Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

The law that they have heard of old is righteous (right on the mark). We shouldn’t murder. What Jesus says is an even more advanced idea of living rightly. Brotherly anger in the kingdom of heaven is of equal seriousness as murder was in the kingdom of Israel. If you use the obnoxious sound “raca” (sounds like hocking up snot to spit) to insult a brother contemptuously it is treason in the kingdom of heaven.

So what should I do instead of being contemptuously angry with my brother?

Make peace with my brother. It is more urgent than giving a sacrifice to God. Sacrifices are symbolic of trusting God. Actions like making peace are actually trusting God.

What should if I am being accused?

Try and reach a settlement knowing that only God can give thoroughly fair judgment. This is just practical. If you try to fight over every detail you may actually lose and end up wasting time in debtors’ prison.

Be a peacemaker, it is God’s way toward you and should be your way toward others.